Interlocking switch-stand.



F. G. ANDERSON. INTERLOGKING SWITCH STAND. APPLICATION FILED NOV. 28, 1910.

Patented Oct. 31, 1.911;

2 SHEBTS-BHEET 1.

F. G." ANDERSON, INTERLOGKING SWITCH STAND. APPLICATION FILED NOV; 28, 1910.

1,007,514. 7 Patented 0015.31Q1911.

' 2 SHEETSSH EET 2. fly? no m I i y. 3

x 7 o en Penman mam M Y COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH co wAsnmu-rou, D. c.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FRANK C. ANDERSON, OF CINCINNATI, OHIO, ASSIGNOR'TO THE AMERICAN VALVE & METER COMPANY, OF CINCINNATI, OHIO, A CORPORATION OHIO.

INTERLOCKING SWITCH-STAND.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 31, 1911.

Application filed November 28, 1910. Serial No. 594,465.

5 State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Interlocking Switch-Stands, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in switch-stands provided with a target and interlocking mechanism.

The opject of my invention is to provide simple and efficient means whereby the point rails of a switch and the interlocking mechanism may all be operated at a single operation of the operating lever without the use of separate operating means for operating the interlocking mechanism, such as separate levers, foot treadles or other operating means.

My invention consists in an interlocking switch stand, having a vertical operating shaft provided with a crank connected to the point rails of a switch, interlocking mechanism connected to said point rails and lever for said operating shaft adapted to operate said interlocking mechanism and point rails at a single operation of said lever.

My invention also consists in an interlocking switch stand having a vertical operating shaft provided with a fulcrum head and operating lever, and with a switch throwing crank placed at an angle of'less than 90 degrees to a line at right angles to the rails of the track.

My invention also consists in the details of construction and arrangement and in the parts, and combination and arrangement of parts as herein set forth and claimed.

The broad invention disclosed in this application is covered by claims in my co-pending application Serial No. 610,303.

In the drawings, which serve to illustrate invention: Figure 1 is a perspective view of my interlocking switch stand, in closed and locked position. Fig. 2 is a plan view, parts being broken away and shown in section to show more clearly the construction of the interlocking mechanism and means for operating same. Fig. 3 is a vertical section taken substantially on the line 33 of Fig.

2. Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic view of the to said operating shaft, and an operating 3 the construction, operation and use of my switch operating crank showing its difierent positions in heavy and dotted lines, and also showing the top plate of the switch stand in dotted lines. Fig. 5 is a diagrammatic view of the interlocking operating crank showing its diflerent positions in heavy and dotted lines. Fig. 6 is a diagrammatic view showing the four positions of the interlocking plunger in relation to the interlocking bar during the operation of the device when in closed or open position.

As illustrated in the drawings my interlocking switch stand is preferably constructed as follows: The switch stand 1, which is of the high or skeleton type, is provided with feet 2, spiked to ties 3 at one side of the switch.

The main or stock rails 41 of the track are mounted in the usual manner upon plates 5 which are fastened upon ties 3 and upon which plates 5 the point rails 6 are adapted to slide into and out of engagement with the stock rails 1 in opening and closing the switch.

The switch stand 1 is provided with top plate 13, of the usual construction for switch stands of the 180 degree type, and is also provided with cross brace 1. operating shaft 7 is secured at its upper end to the top plate 13 by strap or support 15,

A vertical and at its lower endby strap or support 15.

The operating shaft 7 projects above the @top plate 13 a short distance, and has rigidly jmounted thereon a fulcrum head 8, provided with a recessed end within which an operating lever 9 is secured by pivot 10. The top plate 13 is provided at each side with a slot or recess 15 and 45 to receive the operating lever 9 when drawn to the vertical position as shown in Fig. 1. The operating lever '9 is provided near its pivoted end with an jeyelet or keeper 11 to receive a pad-lock 12, which eyelet is adapted to be confined within said recessed end of the fulcrum head 8'by engagement of the throwing lever 9 with top plate 13, out of position for engagement with the pad-lock, except when the operating lever has been brought into vertical position in slot 15 or slot 45, so that the operating lever can not be locked in closed position until all of the parts of the device are thrown in their proper positions.

The operating shaft 7 is adapted to be rotated upon its axis degrees by the operating lever moving from slot or recess 45 to the other slot or recess 15. The top plate 13 is provided with suitable stops 13 to engage the side of the fulcrum head 8 upon each side, and prevent the operating lever from, being thrown more than 180 degrees The operating shaft 7 is provided at its lower end with switch operating crank 19, to the outer end of which is attached a coupling 20, comprising a strap 22 secured by bolts 23 to a threaded member 2 1, into which the operating rod 21 is adapted to be threaded and adjusted to the desired length. The operating rod 21 is fastened in the usual manner to the point rails 6 by means of straps 25.

A target shaft 1% is vertically and rotatably mountedv in hearings in the straps 15 and 15, and is provided with operating arm 16 having slot 17 adapted to receive pin 18 in the top of fulcrum head 8. In order to throw the target 14 the required dis tance of 90 degrees in either direction while the operating shaft and fulcrum head are thrown the required distance of 180 degrees to operate the switch points, I place the slotted operating arm 16 at an angle of 45 degrees to the fulcrum head 8, so that as the fulcrum head is being moved 180 degrees the target will be moved only half of that distance, or 90 degrees.

As shown, I provide suitable interlocking mechanism, consisting of a plate 31 mounted upon ties 3 adjacent the switch stand 1. The plate 31 is preferably provided with slots to receive extensions 32 on the feet 2 of the switch stand, in order to hold the stand and plate in fixed. relation to each other, or if desired said plate may be an integral part of the stand. Mounted on the under side of said plate 31 is a housing 33, in which the interlocking mechanism is placed. An interlocking bar 40 is connected to the point rails 6 in the usual manner, and extends beneath the stock rails 6 along one of the ties 3 through guide 3 on the tie 3 and slot 33 in the end of the housing 33. An opening 410 near the end of the interlocking bar 40 is provided to receive one end of an interlocking plunger 39, which is mounted in suitable bearings in the ends of housing 33. The interlocking plunger 39 is provided with an annular concave recess 42, and frictional springs 41 mounted inside of the housing 33, are adapted to engage said recess 42 for the purpose of retaining said plunger in locked position in case of any accident to the switch stand or any dis arrangement of parts of the exposed operating interlocking mechanism which would tend to throw the interlocking plunger out of engagement with the interlocking bar 40. A horizontally disposed segmental gear 34 engaging an operating rack 38 mounted on the interlocking plunger 39 is fixed upon a vertical shaft 29 by means of pin 35 and key 36. The rack 38 is adapted to slide upon a track or raised portion 13 on the bottom of the housing 33 in order to hold said rack in proper engagement with segmental gear 3 1. Shaft 29 is mounted in a bearing 37 at its lower end, and projects through a guide housing 30 at its upper end. A crank arm 28 is fixed upon the upper end of shaft 29 above said guide housing 30, and is pivotally connected to a link 27, the other end of which is pivoted to interlocking operating crank 26 on the operating shaft 7.

The connecting arm 28 is placed at an angle of 90 degrees to the fulcrum head 8 and operating lever 9, and the interlocking operating crank 26 is placed at an angle of 20 degrees, more or less, to said fulcrum head and operating lever, while the switch operating crank 19 is placed at an angle of less than 90 degrees to said fulcrum head and operating lever.

The distance of the throw of the switch points is determined by the position or angle of the operating crank 19 with relation to the fulcrum head 8 and operating lever 9 in connection with the distance which the center of the crank pin 4:7 is placed from the center of the operating shaft 7; as for instance, if said switch operating crank 1.9 is placed at an angle of 7 0 degrees to said fulcrum head 8 and operating lever 9, so that during the first 40 degree throw of said operating lever said switch operating crank does not move the switch points, the center of the crank pin 47 must be placed far enough from the center of the operating shaft 7 to throw the switch points the distance desired while the operating lever is moving over the remaining 140 degrees of the 180 degrees of its entire throw.

The operation of the device is as follows: Then the switch has been thrown to closed position by the switch stand, locked by the interlocking mechanism, and the target shaft thrown to bring the target into clear position as shown in Fig. 1, and it is desired to open the switch and display the target in danger position, the operator unlocks the pad-lock 12, removes it from the eyelet 11 and raises the operating lever 9 out of slot 15 to a horizontal position, and then draws or throws it 180 degrees to the left, during which movement the interlocking mechanism is unlocked, the switch points thrown to open position, and the target turned to indicate danger.

When the operating lever 9 has reached the limit of its throw or 180 degrees, it will be in position over slot 15, and will drop by gravity to a vertical position therein, and thereby hold the switch points in open position. This movement of the operating lever rotates the operating shaft 7, and during the first 40 degrees traversed by the operating lever 9 and the operating shaft 7 the interlocking operating crank 26 moves interlocking connecting arm 28, through link 27, thereby operating the interlocking mechanism and moving the interlocking plunger 39 a distance of two inches, or until it is withdrawn from locked engagement with the interlocking bar 40. During this operation of unlocking or releasing the interlocking mechanism from the interlocking bar to permit the opening of the switch, the switch operating crank 19 (which is placed at an angle of less than 90 degrees to a line ex tending centrally through the operating shaft at right angles to the track as indicated by its position in heavy lines in Fig. 4) has moved a distance of 40 degrees to a similar position on the other side of said line as indicated by the dotted lines. This movement is permitted before and during the unlocking of the interlocking bar, owing to the fact that said crank travels in a line substantially parallel to the rails, and also on account of lost motion at the points where the parts are bolted together, so that during said movement of the switch throwing crank 19, the operating rod 21 has only been moved a very slight distance, which is indicated by the distance between the dotted lines 44; (Fig. 4). Thus the point rails 6 of the switch are not moved during said 40 degree throw of the operating lever 9, but have simply been sprung approximately five thirty-seconds of an inch, or if the point rails have not been sprung, some of the bolted connections have permitted that much lost motion to be taken up without springing the point rails, and while the point rails 6 have not been moved, the interlocking .40 plunger has been moved to the position shown in Fig. 6 and indicated therein as First position. It is seen, therefore, that the withdrawing of the interlocln'ng plunger from the interlocking bar which locks the point rails in position against the stock rails occurs with the movement of 40 degrees of the operating lever before any movement of the point rails to open position by the operating rod 21 against the point rails 6 takes place. The interlocln'ng plunger 39 having been thus disengaged from the interlocking bar 40 it is very easy to operate the point rails of the switch while the operating lever 9 is being moved over the remainder of its distance. As the interlocking operating crank 26 reaches its second position shown in Fig. 5 the entire distance it has moved amounts to 110 degrees, which has drawn the plunger 39 still farther away from the interlocking bar 10, this being the extreme position, inasmuch as it is the farthest distance that it can possibly force the connecting arm 28, as indicated by the position marked Extreme pos. Fig. 6, which shows that the second movement-of the plunger is three and one-half inches or a total movement of five and one-half inches from Locked position as indicated in Fig. 6. As the interlocking operating crank 26 is moved the remainder of its required distance of degrees, it operates arm 28 through link 27 to throw the interlocking plunger 39 to Open position as indicated in Fig. 6 or to a position corresponding to the First position. When the interlocking plunger 39 returns to this position, the operating lever 9 of the switch stand has reached a position directly over slot 45 and as before stated will drop by gravity into a vertical position and secure the switch in open position. If for any reason, it should be desired to lock the switch in open position, it may be done by attaching a pad lock in the same manner as shown in Fig. 1. Therefore, it is seen that during the movements thus outlined, after the plunger is withdrawn from' the interlocking bar it is not again engaged therewith until the operating lever is returned to its closed position, as

shown in Fig. 1, although the movements of the interlocking plunger will be in both directions during the course of the movement of the operating lever in opening the switch. Thus by a movement of the crank 19 extending over 40 degrees substantially parallel with the track, during which said crank does not operate the point rails, I. am enabled to produce a switch stand which is adapted to operate the point rails, target shaft and target and interlocking mechanism by a single operating lever at one operation, thus eliminating the necessity of any separate operating means, such as a foot treadle or levers to operate the interlocking mechanism.

The usual position of the operating crank which is employed in this type of switch stands is at right angles to, the track, or on a line corresponding to line 46 of Fig 4, when the operating lever is in extreme open or closed position as shown in Fig. 1, and is not placed in relation to the lever in such a manner that by the operation of said lever, the switch throwing crank will have to be operated over a line passing centrally through the operating shaft at right angles of the track. While I prefer to place said crank 19 substantially 20- degrees off of cen ter of said line to either right or left, as the case may be, and thereby provide for the required lost movement in not operating the point rails until the interlocking plunger has been withdrawn from or returned to the interlocking bar, it will be apparent that some variation from the positions specified may be made without departing from the scope of my invention.

My device reduces the number of parts, simplifies the construction and renders it less expensive and more eflicient than interlocking devices heretofore constructed. Inasmuch as I dispense with any separate means other than the operating lever, for operating the interlocking mechanism, any workman who is able to throw the operating lever 9 of the switch stand can operate the device properly without any special instructions as to its mode of operation.

Many modifications of my invention may be made without departing from its spirit and scope, and I do not wish to be confined to the exact details shown.

hat I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In an interlocking switch stand, a vertical operating shaft, a switch throwing crank thereon placed at an angle to a line drawn centrally through said operating shaft at right angles to the track, when the switch is in. closed position, and at the same angle on the reverse side of said line when the switch is thrown to open position, said crank being operatively connected to the point rails of a switch, an interlocking bar connected to said point rails, interlocking mechanism having a plunger adapted to lock said interlocking bar and having a con necting arm disposed at right angles to the track when the switch is in closed position, a connecting link pivoted thereon, an interlocking operating crank upon said operating shaft connected to said link and adapted to operate said interlocking mechanism, a fulcrum head fixed on said operating shaft, and an operating lever adapted to operate said interlocking mechanism, and switch points at a single operation, substantially as set forth.

2. In an interlocking switch stand, a vertical operating shaft, a switch throwing crank thereon connected to the point rails of a switch, an interlocking bar connected to said point rails, interlocking mechanism having a plunger adapted to lock said interlocking bar, and an operating lever adapted to operate said interlocking mechanism, and switch points at one operation, substantially as set forth and for the purposes specified.

3. In an interlocking switch stand, a vertical operating shaft adapted to move more than 90 degrees, a switch operating crank thereon having a crank pin set at an angle to a line passing through said operating shaft at right angles to the track when the switch is in either open or closed position and adapted to move across said line when the switch is thrown from one position to another, a throwing or operating lever adapted to be thrown more than 90 degrees, means for operatively connecting said crank to the point rails of a switch, and means for interlocking said point rails, substantially as set forth.

4. In an interlocking switch stand, a Vertical operating shaft, a switch operating crank thereon having a crank pin set at an angle to a line passing through said operating shaft at right angles to the track when the switch is in open or closed position, a throwing or operating lever adapted to be thrown more than 90 degrees, means for connecting said crank to the point rails of a switch, interlocking mechanism, and means for throwing said interlocking mechanism and point rails at a single operation of the throwing lever, substantially as set forth.

5. In an interlocking switch stand, a vertical operating shaft, a switch throwing crank thereon, an operating rod connected to said crank and to the point rails of a switch, an interlocking bar connected to said point rails, interlocking mechanism adapted to lock said interlocking bar and having a connecting arm, a link connected to said arm, an interlocking operating crank on said operating shaft adapted to impart movement to said link, a fulcrum head on said operating shaft, a throwing or operating lever attached to said fulcrum head and adapted to operate said interlocking mechanism, and switch points at a single operation, substantially as set forth.

6. In an interlocking switch stand, a vertical operating shaft operatively connected to the point rails of a switch and having a fulcrum head and throwing lever connected thereto, an interlocking bar connected to said point rails, a housing, an interlocking plunger adapted to engage and hold said interlocking bar, a rack on said plunger, a hori- Zontally disposed segmental gear adapted to engage and actuate said rack, a vertical shaft suitably journaled and adapted to operate said segmental gear, a connecting arm on the upper end of said shaft, a link pivoted to said connecting arm, an interlocking operating crank fixed upon the operating shaft and adapted to operate said link, and a single operating lever adapted to operate said device at one operation, substantially as set forth.

7. In an interlocking switch stand, a vertical operating shaft operatively connected to the point rails of a switch, a fulcrum head fixed on said operating shaft, an interlock ing bar connected to said point rails and having an opening therein, interlocking mechanism operatively connected to said vertical operating shaft and having a plunger adapted to enter said opening and hold said interlocking bar, said plunger having an annular concave recess and friction springs adapted to engage said recess, substantially as set forth and for the purposes specified.

8. In an interlocking switch stand, a vertical operating shaft operatively connected to the point rails of a switch, an interlocking bar connected to said point rails, interlocking mechanism connected to said operating shaft, and having a plunger adapted to engage said interlocking bar, a plate and housing for said interlocking mechanism, a track and bearing in said housing adapted to support said interlocking mechanism, and means for operating said device, substantially as set forth.

9. In an interlocking switch stand, a vertical operating shaft having a switch throwing crank operatively connected to the point rails ofa switch and having a fulcrum head, an interlocking bar connected to said point rails, switch interlocking mechanism comprising an interlocking plunger adapted to lock said interlocking bar, a horizontally disposed rack fixed thereon, a horizontally disposed segmental gear adapted to engage and operate said rack, a vertical shaft upon which said segmental gear is fixed, means connected to said operating shaft adapted to operate said interlocking mechanism, and an operating lever adapted to operate said device at a single operation, substantially as set forth.

10. In an interlocking switch stand, a vertical operating shaft operatively connected to the point rails of a switch, a fulcrum head fixed on said shaft, an interlocking bar connected to said point rails, interlocking mechanism operatively connected to said operating shaft and adapted to lock said interlocking bar, and an operating lever adapted to operate said device, substantially as set forth.

11. In an interlocking switch stand, a stand having a top plate provided with slots on its opposite sides, a vertical operating shaft rotatably mounted on said stand and operatively connected to the point rails of a switch, stops on said top plate, a fulcrum head fixed on said operating shaft abovesaid top plate and adapted to move 180 degrees thereover and to have its movement limited by said stops, an interlocking bar connected to said point rails, interlocking mechanism operatively connected to said operating shaft and adapted to lock said interlocking bar, and a throwing or operating lever adapted to operate said device, substantially as set forth.

12. In an interlocking switch stand, a vertical operating shaft adapted to move 180 degrees and provided with a crank connected to the point rails of a switch, interlocking mechanism connected to said point rails and to said operating shaft, and an operating lever for said operating shaft adapted to operate said interlocking mechanism, and

point rails at a single operation of said lever, substantially as set forth.

13. In an interlocking switch stand, a vertical operating shaft, a throwing lever adapted to rotate said operating shaft, switch interlocking mechanism connected to the point rails of a switch and to said operating shaft, a switch operating crank on said operating shaft setat such an angle to a line passing through said operating shaft at right angles to the track, that when the operating lever is moved to operate said in tel-locking mechanism, said crank will pass from one side of said line to the other, without causing the point rails to be opened until the interlocking plunger on the interlocking mechanism has been withdrawn from the interlocking bar.

14. In an interlocking switch stand, a vertical operating shaft, a switch throwing crank thereon placed at an angle to a line drawn centrally at right angles to the track when the switch is in closed position, and at the same angle on the reverse side of said line when the switch is thrown to open position, said crank being operatively connected to the point rails of a switch, an interlocking bar connected to said point rails, interlocking mechanism having a plunger adapted to lock said interlocking bar, and operatively connected to said operating shaft, and an operating lever adapted to operate said interlocking mechanism and switch points, substantially as set forth.

15. In an interlocking switch stand, a vertical operating shaft, a switch throwing crank thereon operatively connected to the point rails of a switch, an interlocking bar connected to said point rails, interlocking mechanism adapted to lock said interlocking bar and operatively connected to said operating shaft, a switch operating lever connected to said vertical operating shaft in such a manner that said switch throwing crank will be operated ten degrees more or less, on either side of a line drawn centrally through said vertical operating shaft at right angles to the track, thereby making a substantially parallel movement of the crank pin with the track when said lever is thrown to operate said interlocking mechanism suflicient to withdraw the plunger from the interlocking bar, without opening the switch points.

FRANK C. ANDERSON.

Witnesses:

JAMES N. RAMSEY, WINONA DOAN.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. G. 

